Russia Vetoes UN Resolution , to Prevent Nukes in Space.
The resolution was sponsored
by Japan and the United States.
It called on all nations to refrain from developing or deploying nuclear weapons "or other weapons of mass destruction in space," 'The Guardian' reports. .
A 1967 international treaty
already bans such weapons in space.
Russia’s U.N. Ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia,
vetoed the resolution, calling it "absolutely absurd and politicized," as well as a "dirty spectacle.".
China abstained from voting, while the rest of the 15-member council voted in favor of the resolution. .
Today’s veto begs the question:
Why? Why, if you are following the
rules, would you not support a
resolution that reaffirms them?
What could you possibly be hiding, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.S. ambassador to the U.N., via 'The Guardian'.
Russia and China would rather establish an
amendment calling on all nations "to prevent for
all time the placement of weapons in outer space, and the threat of use of force in outer spaces.".
We want a ban on the placement of
weapons of any kind in outer space, not
just WMDs [weapons of mass destruction].
But you don’t want that. And let me ask
you that very same question. Why?, Vassily Nebenzia, Russia’s U.N. ambassador, via 'The Guardian'.
Nebenzia went on to say, "if we recall that the U.S. and their allies announced some time ago plans to place weapons … in outer space.".
The U.S.-Japan resolution was announced in March after it was determined that Russia was in possession of "a 'troubling' anti-satellite weapon capability," 'The Guardian' reports.
However, earlier this year, Putin said, , "Our position is clear and transparent: We have always been categorically against and are now against the deployment of nuclear weapons in space."